Smoke Plumes Have Unique Fingerprints. They're All Bad For Your Health.

This story is produced by Montana Free Press/Mountain Journal in collaboration with Grist as part of the Report for America Local News Initiative.

For the past several weeks a familiar, albeit unwelcome, summer guest has settled into Montana. Despite a slower start than expected, fire season is here. And the outside world now exists in the sepia-toned hue of sunlight filtered through smoky skies.

The lighting casts an eerie shadow on the snake plant sitting in Ethan Walker's office window in Missoula. Signs advertising snake plants and other indoor flora at stores like Lowe's proclaim the plan...